REBELS MOVE TO SEAL TOP NAMES

WITH PLAY-OFFS contention a looming possibility, Worthing FC management are starting to put player plans in place for next season, reports Richard Amey. They have agreed new two-year contracts with leading striker Sam Francis and top utility player Mark Knee.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2005, 10:59 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:57 BST

Assistant boss Danny Bloor explained: "We are hopeful of negotiating soon with a couple more players. We want to get started on securing next season's squad."

Liam Collins, the roaming-role midfielder, is included by Bognor boss Jack Pearce in his 17-men for the Ryman League Representative team to meet an FA XI at Dulwich Hamlet on Monday, March 7. The game celebrates the centenary of the league.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rebels expect to go with an unchanged squad for the visit of would-be play-off rivals Staines Town on Saturday. Staines have Fiston Manuella in the Rep side.

After the disappointment of Leyton on Saturday, Worthing returned to winning ways on Tuesday with a convincing performance which took them back into the play-off frame and boosted their goal difference.

The Rebels, again without the injured Ronnie Green, made all the running from the start, raced into an early two-goal lead and Tonbridge appeared quickly to lose heart.

Sam Francis got the first on eight minutes with an accurate shot from the edge of the box when the visitors' defence invitingly opened up for him. Five minutes later, there seemed to be some doubt whether Matt Russell was onside, but there was no doubt about the destination of the ball as it left his boot . . . 2-0.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Worthing continued to dominate. Their defence was never pressurised, and on a cold evening keeper Mark Ormerod might have wished for a bit more action. The little he had to do he did with confidence.

Andy Alexander was impressive as a makeshift No 5, and Liam Collins a constant box of tricks down the right.

It was from one of his crosses that Lee Charles turned in Worthing's third before half-time. The Angels looked to be already fallen. The second half was largely a non-event, and Worthing used the opportunity to give their subs a run-out.

Although taking their foot off the gas, they always seemed the likelier team to score and added a fourth near the end when substitute Nko Ekoku raced clear. Drawing keeper Jamie Turner, he unselfishly gave Francis the chance to tap in his second of the evening. Francis is now Rebels' leading scorer for the season with nine.

WORTHING: Ormerod; Holmes, Alexander, Pullan, Dicker; Collins, Grice, Rogers; Russell, Francis, Charles. Subs: Ekoku (Charles 67), Pook, Pulling (Russell, Rogers 85), Lutwyche, Packham.

Att: 187.

Related topics:Danny Bloor